Cross-species amplification of Clupeidae microsatellite DNA markers in common kilka, Clupeonella cultriventris from the Caspian Sea

Common kilka Clupeonella cultriventris (Nordmann, ۱۸۴۰) is a brackish water and small pelagic fish species and is one of the most abundant fishes that live gregariously in the Caspian Sea. A total of ۶۰ specimens of adult common kilka were sampled from two seasons. Fifteen pairs of microsatellites previously developed for A.sapidissima, C. pallasi, C.harengus, and S. pilchardus were tested for cross-species amplification on the common kilka. In this study, only five primer pairs were used successfully. Analyses revealed that the average of alleles per locus was ۱۴.۴. The average observed and expected heterozygosity was ۰.۱۵۳ and ۰.۸۸۸, respectively. All loci significantly deviated from H–W equilibrium. These results together with significant Rst. values for genotypic differences support the existence of different genetic populations along the Caspian Sea coast (Guilan Province).

Keywords:

Population genetics , South Caspian Sea , Microsatellite , Clupeonella cultriventris